Fastening Device for ornamental Light strings

ABSTRACT

A fastening device for hanging and fastening ornamental light strings includes a plurality of upright bars each provided with at least one first ring and each having two ends each provided with a first hook, and at least two transverse bars each provided with at least one second ring for detachably hooking the first hook of a respective upright bar and each having two ends each provided with a second hook for detachably hooking the first hook of a respective upright bar. Thus, the transverse bars are combined with the upright bars to construct the fastening device by a hooking connection of the second rings and the second hooks of the transverse bars with the first hooks of the upright bars, so that the transverse bars are combined with and detached from the upright bars easily and quickly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fastening device and, moreparticularly, to a fastening device for hanging and fastening ornamentallight strings.

2. Description of the Related Art

Ornamental light strings are usually used in a festival, such as on theChristmas Day, the New Year's Day and the like, to provide a decorativeeffect. However, the ornamental light strings are hung on or attached toan object, such as a tree, wall, eave and the like, so that theornamental light strings are not fixed and are easily thrown away due toa blast of wind, thereby causing inconvenience to the user, and therebydecreasing the aesthetic quality of the ornamental light strings.

The closest prior art reference of which the applicant is aware wasdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,866, entitled “Organizing andinstallation device for icicle lights”. However, such a device has alarger volume, thereby causing inconvenience in packaging, storage andtransportation of the device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fasteningdevice, comprising a plurality of upright bars each provided with atleast one first ring and each having two opposite ends each providedwith a first hook, and at least two transverse bars each provided withat least one second ring for detachably hooking the first hook of arespective upright bar and each having two opposite ends each providedwith a second hook for detachably hooking the first hook of a respectiveupright bar.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a fasteningdevice for hanging and fastening ornamental light strings, wherein thetransverse bars are combined with the upright bars to construct thefastening device by a hooking connection of the second rings and thesecond hooks of the transverse bars with the first hooks of the uprightbars, so that the transverse bars are combined with and detached fromthe upright bars easily and quickly, thereby greatly facilitating a userassembling and disassembling the fastening device.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a fasteningdevice for hanging and fastening ornamental light strings, wherein thetransverse bars are detached from the upright bars to reduce the wholevolume of the fastening device when not in use, thereby facilitatingpackaging, storage and transportation of the fastening device beforeassembly.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a fasteningdevice for hanging and fastening ornamental light strings, wherein theupright bars and the transverse bars are made easily and conveniently,thereby decreasing the costs of fabrication.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a fasteningdevice for hanging and fastening ornamental light strings, wherein thefastening device comprises multiple transverse bars combined withmultiple upright bars so that the size of the fastening device ischangeable and expandable in a two-dimensional way according to a user'srequirement, thereby enhancing the versatility of the fastening devicebefore assembly.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a fasteningdevice for hanging and fastening ornamental light strings, wherein eachof the ornamental light strings is introduced through the opening intoeach of the first rings of each of the upright bars so that theornamental light strings are retained and limited by the first rings ofthe upright bars to prevent the ornamental light strings from beingvibrated or deflected.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fastening device in accordance withthe preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fastening device as shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fastening device for hanging andfastening ornamental light strings.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fastening device for hanging andfastening ornamental light strings in accordance with another preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fasteningdevice for hanging and fastening ornamental light strings in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises aplurality of upright bars 1 each provided with at least one first ring11 and each having two opposite ends each provided with a first hook 12,and at least two transverse bars 2 each provided with at least onesecond ring 21 for detachably hooking the first hook 12 of a respectiveupright bar 1 and each having two opposite ends each provided with asecond hook 22 for detachably hooking the first, hook 12 of a respectiveupright bar 1.

Each of the upright bars 1 is made of metal and is detachably locatedbetween the at least two transverse bars 2. The upright bars 1 arearranged in parallel with each other and are equally spaced from eachother. Each of the upright bars 1 is provided with a plurality of firstrings 11 which are located between the first hooks 12 of the twoopposite ends of each of the upright bars 1. The first rings 11 of eachof the upright bars 1 are equally spaced from each other between thefirst hooks 12 of the two opposite ends of each of the upright bars 1.Each of the first rings 11 of each of the upright bars 1 is disposed ata horizontal state and has a periphery provided with an opening 110 sothat each of the first rings 11 of each of the upright bars 1 has asubstantially C-shaped profile. The first hook 12 of each of the uprightbars 1 has a substantially R-shaped profile. Each of the upright bars 1is integrally formed with the first rings 11 and the first hooks 12 bybending.

The at least two transverse bars 2 are combined with the upright bars 1detachably. Each of the at least two transverse bars 2 is made of metal.Each of the at least two transverse bars 2 is provided with a pluralityof second rings 21 which are located between the second hooks 22 of thetwo opposite ends of each of the at least two transverse bars 2. Thesecond rings 21 of each of the at least two transverse bars 2 areequally spaced from each other between the second hooks 22 of the twoopposite ends of each of the at least two transverse bars 2. Each of thesecond rings 21 of each of the at least two transverse bars 2 isdisposed at an upright state. The second hook 22 of each of the at leasttwo transverse bars 2 has a substantially R-shaped profile. Each of theat least two transverse bars 2 is integrally formed with the secondrings 21 and the second hooks 22 by bending.

The fastening device further comprises at least two clips 3 detachablymounted on an upper one of the at least two transverse bars 2. Each ofthe at least two clips 3 has a first portion provided with a receivingspace 32 to receive upper one of the at least two transverse bars 2 anda second portion provided with a clamping slit 34 connected to thereceiving space 32. Each of the at least two clips 3 has two distal ends31 juxtaposed to each other to define the clamping slit 34 between thetwo distal ends 31. The clamping slit 34 of each of the at least twoclips 3 has a dimension smaller than that of the receiving space 32.Each of the at least two clips 3 is made by an elastic metal bar whichis bent to integrally form the receiving space 32 and the clamping slit34.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a plurality of ornamental light strings 4 aremounted on and supported by the upright bars 1 and the at least twotransverse bars 2 of the fastening device, and each of the at least twoclips 3 of the fastening device is mounted on a eave 5 to attach thefastening device to the eave 5 so that the ornamental light strings 4are hung on the eave 5 by the fastening device. At this time, each ofthe ornamental light strings 4 is introduced through the opening 110into each of the first rings 11 of each of the upright bars 1 so thatthe ornamental light strings 4 are retained and limited by the firstrings 11 of the upright bars 1 to prevent the ornamental light strings 4from being vibrated or deflected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fastening device comprises a plurality oftransverse bars 2 combined with the plurality of upright bars 1 so thatthe size of the fastening device is changeable and expandable in atwo-dimensional way according to a user's practical requirement. Inaddition, the fastening device comprises a plurality of clips 3detachably mounted on an upper one of the transverse bars 2.

Accordingly, the transverse bars 2 are combined with the upright bars 1to construct the fastening device by a hooking connection of the secondrings 21 and the second hooks 22 of the transverse bars 2 with the firsthooks 12 of the upright bars 1, so that the transverse bars 2 arecombined with and detached from the upright bars 1 easily and quickly,thereby greatly facilitating a user assembling and disassembling thefastening device. In addition, the transverse bars 2 are detached fromthe upright bars 1 to reduce the whole volume of the fastening devicewhen not in use, thereby facilitating packaging, storage andtransportation of the fastening device before assembly. Further, theupright bars 1 and the transverse bars 2 are made easily andconveniently, thereby decreasing the costs of fabrication. Further, thefastening device comprises multiple transverse bars 2 combined withmultiple upright bars 1 so that the size of the fastening device ischangeable and expandable in a two-dimensional way according to a user'srequirement, thereby enhancing the versatility of the fastening devicebefore assembly. Further, each of the ornamental light strings 4 isintroduced through the opening 110 into each of the first rings 1 ofeach of the upright bars 1 so that the ornamental light strings 4 areretained and limited by the first rings 11 of the upright bars 1 toprevent the ornamental light strings 4 from being vibrated or deflected.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many otherpossible modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated thatthe appended claim or claims will cover such modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

1. A fastening device, comprising: a plurality of upright bars eachprovided with at least one first ring and each having two opposite endseach provided with a first hook; at least two transverse bars eachprovided with at least one second ring for detachably hooking the firsthook of a respective upright bar and each having two opposite ends eachprovided with a second hook for detachably hooking the first hook of arespective upright bar.
 2. The fastening device in accordance with claim1, wherein each of the upright bars is provided with a plurality offirst rings.
 3. The fastening device in accordance with claim 2, whereinthe first rings of each of the upright bars are located between thefirst hooks of the two opposite ends of each of the upright bars.
 4. Thefastening device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the first rings ofeach of the upright bars are equally spaced from each other between thefirst hooks of the two opposite ends of each of the upright bars.
 5. Thefastening device in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the firstrings of each of the upright bars is disposed at a horizontal state. 6.The fastening device in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of thefirst rings of each of the upright bars has a periphery provided with anopening.
 7. The fastening device in accordance with claim 6, whereineach of the first rings of each of the upright bars has a substantiallyC-shaped profile.
 8. The fastening device in accordance with claim 1,wherein the first hook of each of the upright bars has a substantiallyR-shaped profile.
 9. The fastening device in accordance with claim 2,wherein each of the upright bars is integrally formed with the firstrings and the first hooks by bending.
 10. The fastening device inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the at least two transverse bars arecombined with the upright bars detachably.
 11. The fastening device inaccordance with claim 1, wherein each of the at least two transversebars is provided with a plurality of second rings which are locatedbetween the second hooks of the two opposite ends of each of the atleast two transverse bars.
 12. The fastening device in accordance withclaim 11, wherein the second rings of each of the at least twotransverse bars are equally spaced from each other between the secondhooks of the two opposite ends of each of the at least two transversebars.
 13. The fastening device in accordance with claim 11, wherein eachof the second rings of each of the at least two transverse bars isdisposed at an upright state.
 14. The fastening device in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the second hook of each of the at least twotransverse bars has a substantially R-shaped profile.
 15. The fasteningdevice in accordance with claim 11, wherein each of the at least twotransverse bars is integrally formed with the second rings and thesecond hooks by bending.
 16. The fastening device in accordance withclaim 1, further comprising at least two clips detachably mounted on anupper one of the at least two transverse bars.
 17. The fastening devicein accordance with claim 16, wherein each of the at least two clips hasa first portion provided with a receiving space to receive upper one ofthe at least two transverse bars and a second portion provided with aclamping slit connected to the receiving space.
 18. The fastening devicein accordance with claim 17, wherein each of the at least two clips hastwo distal ends juxtaposed to each other to define the clamping slitbetween the two distal ends; the clamping slit of each of the at leasttwo clips has a dimension smaller than that of the receiving space; eachof the at least two clips is made by an elastic metal bar which is bentto integrally form the receiving space and the clamping slit.
 19. Thefastening device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fasteningdevice comprises a plurality of transverse bars combined with theplurality of upright bars so that the size of the fastening device ischangeable and expandable in a two-dimensional way.
 20. The fasteningdevice in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the upright bars ismade of metal and is detachably located between the at least twotransverse bars; the upright bars are arranged in parallel with eachother and are equally spaced from each other; each of the at least twotransverse bars is made of metal.